Taking over a roster that was about $16 million over the salary cap when he was hired in January, Gettleman has spent most of his first free agency as GM cutting players and getting the Panthers below the $123 million cap.

The Panthers released three defensive starters – CB Chris Gamble, LB James Anderson and DT Ron Edwards – while re-signing three backups and/or special teams players.

Their lone acquisition has been Drayton Florence, a 32-year-old cornerback who started three games for Detroit in 2011.

But Gettleman said he has a plan, and talked about the need for patience.“You can't print money. Everybody in the league knows we're up against it. We're trying to figure it out, and we have a plan,” Gettleman said Monday at the NFL owners meetings at the Arizona Biltmore.

“It's just about patience, it really is. Believe me, we are just as frustrated as anybody else by our current situation. However, there's answers out there and we have a plan that I feel good about. When it's over, it's going to be fine.

“We live in an instant gratification society, and I get all that. But at the end of the day, this takes time.”

Gettleman did not offer details about that plan, but indicated the Panthers will be more active in the second wave of free agency as the market cools and players' salary demands decrease.

“The bottom line is it's a buyer's market. We get that. But at the same time we want to be respectful and you don't want to anybody in your building that's upset over getting a low number,” Gettleman said. “We're just trying to be thoughtful and a little bit maybe for some, too methodical. But we're going to be thoughtful and methodical about how we operate.”

The Panthers made offers to two defensive starters – cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and defensive tackle Dwan Edwards – that the players believed were unsatisfactory. The agent for Munnerlyn, who became a bigger priority with the release of Gamble, is scheduled to talk with the Panthers again Monday night, according to a league source.

Gettleman said he thought the Panthers had a “puncher's chance” to re-sign one or both of the players.

Gettleman would not discuss the contract status of veteran left tackle Jordan Gross, who was asked to take a pay cut to help the Panthers' cap situation.Gettleman said it was awkward cutting Anderson and Gamble because he did not know either player.By cutting Anderson, the Panthers are putting their faith in veteran linebacker Jon Beason, who has been limited to five games due to injuries since signing a five-year, $51.5 million contract extension two years ago.Gettleman said he is confident Beason, who is coming off knee and shoulder surgeries, will hold up for an entire season.

“We're pleased with his progress. He's working extremely hard. He's a professional, and he wants to play,” Gettleman said. “At the end of the day Jon Beason's a football player. That's what he wants. He's working very hard at his rehab and we're very confident that he'll be fine.”--Joseph Person

A fuggin punchers chance at signing captain and dwan? You gotta be kidding me. If that's the only shot we've got you can just forget everything else. Looks like band aids and rookies from here on. 6-10 at best with a new coach and staff in bound.

In all honesty, who thought he was going to come in and we'd be Superbowl contenders this coming season. Lets get real. Be patient, and eventually we will be. Look at what the Niners went through to get to where they are now.. years and years of mediocrity. Hopefully won't take that long, but we gotta be patient. In Gettleman I trust.

He does have a point. Patience is hard to have but sometimes you have to be realistic and deal with it. At in end of the day, I think we will be fine. Beef up the trenches on both sides. I believe this team will see the playoffs next season even without a "big signing". These past two seasons we have be close but no able to close out games. We fix that and we are in there.